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UN political affairs chief visits Cyprus, Greece and Turkey

UN political affairs chief visits Cyprus, Greece and Turkey

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The United Nations chief of political affairs is visiting Cyprus, Greece and Turkey to assess the mood on the island and in the region after the parallel referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities late last April on Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s proposal to re-unite before joining the European Union (EU).

After arriving yesterday, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast today met Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos of the EU member, Cyprus, and tomorrow he is scheduled to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

Mr. Prendergast would also meet authorities in Athens, Greece, and Ankara, Turkey, between 2 and 7 June before heading back to UN Headquarters in New York to report to Mr. Annan.

A UN spokesman said earlier this month that Mr. Annan had asked Sir Kieran to listen to the views of all parties on the future of the Secretary-General's mission of good offices on Cyprus.